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2009 President's Report

Hello from our office in Chicago!  Since my last message to you, NCC has really been on the move!  Our newest exam for Neonatal Pediatric Transport was launched this past fall and 306 individuals earned the credential of added qualification!  This exam is multidisciplinary-- RNs, RNCs, NPs, Respiratory Therapists, MDs, and Paramedics participated.  We have had multiple requests from Physician’s Assistants to take the exam and we are happy to announce that they are now eligible. 

Our Executive Director, Betty Burns, published a paper in the Journal of Pediatric and Neonatal Nursing; Volume 23, Number 3, pp 218-227, which is entitled “Continuing Competency – What’s Ahead?” I encourage all of you to read it.  The issue of continuing competency continues to be at the forefront of the regulatory and credentialing communities.

In October of this year, I attended a Nursing Certification and Competency Summit sponsored by the American Board of Nursing Specialties.  Eighty-seven of us representing 42 different organizations consolidated the themes into four research priorities:

  • The relationship between certification and patient outcomes
  • Continuing competency in nursing
  • The relationship between the health care environment and certification/certified practice
  • Stakeholder understanding of certification and perceived value of certification

How does one assure that the health care worker who once attained licensure is competent?  A follow-up question for those of us who are certified is “What should be necessary to maintain certification?”  Is simply attending continuing education courses enough?  Many of our colleagues who are seeking recertification are completing portfolios, retesting, and providing various combinations of practice documentation and continuing education.   

As a major step in finding the answer to what is the best way to recertify professionals, NCC in 2007, surveyed 1500 WHNPs to determine the level of knowledge in the major areas of competency expected of a NCC certified WHNP. This year our Board of Directors looked at the results and made recommendations regarding recertification for our certified nurses in the core areas.  Stay tuned for a wonderful program that I know you will find helpful. 

For those of you in Advance Practice Nursing, please review the Consensus Paper on Advance Practice Nursing on our website.  The leadership of NCC actively participated in the development of this document over the past 4 years.  Our Immediate Past President, Fran Byrd, has created an excellent detailed analysis that we will be sending out very shortly. 

Other major accomplishments/changes in the past two years:

  • New Credential Designations were issued to better recognize your specialty focus (e.g. NNP-BC, RNC-OB, and C-EFM).
  • Expansion of our Institutional Certification Program at many more facilities (testing done at various hospitals and clinics for convenience)
  • Creation of many new self assessment continuing education modules (see the listing on our website – they allow for home study in hard copy format or online).
  • Completion of all Content Validation Studies/Task Analysis (These help us keep our exams current with what is happening in your practice)
  • Web-based video/audio Board and Content Team Meetings
  • Active participation in Advanced Practice Roundtable, Advanced Practice Alliance, and the National Council of the State Boards of Nursing.
  • Our website was redesigned with many more features including on line submission of documents, updating contact information and looking up verification of credential.  Please keep us updated on your email address as this is NCC’s main way to reach you and keep you informed of changes and pertinent information!

Did you know that NCC has over 65,000 professionals currently certified? I hope all of you that are certified are introducing yourself to your clients as a certified nurse or other professional in your respected specialty.   Achieving certification is a major accomplishment and educating the public can begin with that introduction.

Our expert volunteers are crucial to our success.  My extreme gratitude is expressed for the many hours and days out of your busy schedules that you have given to NCC. Our content teams for each exam are comprised of experts and thought leaders in their specialty area.    If any of you would like to write items for our exams or become more involved with NCC, please let us know.

It is now time to pass the baton!  My tenure as a NCC Board Member ends on 12/31/09 and I will turn the Presidency over to Dr. Robin Bissinger, who is a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner.  She has been on the Board of Directors for the past four years and has served in many leadership positions during her career.   I know it will be a smooth transition.

In closing, I thank Betty Burns, our Executive Director, and the superb staff at HAB for all your diligence, tenacity, forward-thinking and hard work.  It has been my supreme honor to be on the Board of NCC and it’s 10th President.

Suzy Reiter, WHNP-BC, FAANP, President